Having a website isn’t enough.
If your website doesn’t demonstrate your qualifications as an attorney, your visitors won’t trust you (meaning you’ll lose clients). How do you turn your website from a business profile into a successful tool?
We’ve put together this guide to help you learn some helpful tips about web design for law firms that’ll make you stand out from the competition.
So let’s get started!
1. Keep the Interface Simple and Easy to Navigate
You have 15 seconds to catch someone’s attention once they click on your website. And that’s only if you’re lucky. Over 55% of visitors will leave your site even faster than that if they don’t find what they’re looking for.
That’s why your interface must have a simple design. It should be able to direct people to the right information (such as the contact page, practice areas, blog posts, etc.) in a few clicks. Not only is this easier for people to understand, but it will also translate better on mobile devices.
Do this by adding a clear navigation bar at the top of the page with a list of services. This will function as a menu. The visits will be able to find what they want then click on it to get more information.
Keep the grade-level of your website copy low. Anything higher than an 8th-grade reading level will be too complex for most of your audience.
Keep pop-ups to a minimum. They can distract from more important information, and many of your visitors will find them annoying. The only pop-ups you should consider are chat boxes or contact windows.
Here are a few other web design tips to keep in mind.
2. Leave Room for Whitespace
Law firm websites are full of information because… well, they have to be. There’s no getting around it.
But lay out this information strategically. Cramming too many things on one page will overwhelm the reader and may send them fleeing to your competitors. Make sure all your pages have “room to breathe.” Leave areas of whitespace, separate content with high-quality images, and keep things short.
This will make it easier for people to digest and understand.
3. Rewrite Your Attorney Bios
You might think bios are the place to demonstrate your education and experience, and you’re right, in a sense. You do want to tell the readers about these topics, but your bio is also the first thing potential clients will see about you.
It’s your first impression.
Because of this, your bio should give readers a way to connect with you. Tell them about you as a person (a client won’t want to hire you if they don’t know anything about you). But don’t forget to keep your language client-focused, as well.
Try separating your bio into sections, such as education, credentials, areas of practice, personal, awards, etc. This will help the readers learn more about you.
4. Answer the Question “How Can We Help You?” on Every Page
Every page of your website should answer the question, “How can we help you?”. The visitor might not know exactly what they’re looking for when they click on your site, so you should provide valuable information that can answer those questions they didn’t even know they had.
One of the most helpful web pages for this is a blog.
Fill your blog with helpful posts about how to handle different types of legal trouble. This will show your readers what steps to take, what to expect during their case, and, most importantly, why they should hire you as their attorney.
Always publish a new post at least once a week—between two to four times is much better, though. Not only will this educate your audience, but it will also play a big part in your marketing plan.
5. Showcase Reviews and Testimonials
Over 90% of people read online reviews before they buy a product or hire a service. And they trust these reviews.
If you want your web visitors along in the hiring process, make sure your website has a page dedicated to reviews. Post what your past clients had to say about you and how you handled/won their case. Visitors that see good past results will be more secure in their decision to give you a call.
6. Integrate Social Media
Don’t think your law firm needs social media? Think again.
Social media opens new doors to more clients. It puts you in touch with thousands of people you may not have found otherwise, so if you don’t have social media accounts yet, get them.
Then integrate those accounts into your website. Add links to your profiles so your visitors can explore more about you and have multiple methods of communication.
7. Make It Easy to Contact You
The contact button is the most important part of a website for law firms. You should give your visitors a way to contact you on every single page.
When they do decide to reach out, make sure you’re getting the right information. Don’t ask for too much. If your visitors feel like they have to give out everything about them, they might shy away.
Work on your CTA so the visitors are drawn to get in touch with you. The best CTAs don’t sound like CTAs at all.
8. Optimize Your Site for Mobile Use
Over 62% of all internet users browse websites on their mobile devices. Because of this, your website must be mobile-friendly. If it’s not, you’re cutting yourself off from all those customers. People who can’t navigate your website while on their phone will find someone else to help them.
Getting the Web Design for Law Firms
Your website doesn’t need to be passable. It needs to be better than the competition, and the best way to do that is to hire a company that can personalize your web design for law firms.
Not sure where to find the right help?
Our team at Pure Digital Marketing can update your website so it’s easier to convert those visitors into clients. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today!
